All posts by Tony Attwood

It’s not easy to ensure that every student comes to school or college properly equipped for lessons or exams.

Some may simply have woken up late and left home in a rush. Some might benefit from being better organised while others need to learn to be a bit more responsible.

What we do know, however, is that time is often wasted at the start of lessons while some students try to borrow what they need to benefit from their lesson.

All it needs is for a few students to forget a pen, ruler, pencil, etc and what was supposed to be a well planned, interesting lesson can become unproductive if some students are ready & able to work while others are not.

But now there’s a simple, effective and low cost way of solving the problem ….it’s the “STUDENT ESSENTIALS” set.

Consisting of, three quality black ink pens, two full length HB pencils, a 15 cm ruler, pencil sharpener, eraser, all contained in a clear “exam friendly” PVC wallet with a zip slider…. From just 85p each, ex vat, it’s a simple and effective way of improving productivity and helping students succeed in their lessons and exams….not to mention making life easier for teaching staff.

Staff might like to keep “Student Essentials” sets in the school or department office and then sell or give to students when the need arises.

In the next couple of months, many will find themselves finishing up their degrees at university and bound for graduation. Even if you graduated last year, it may still feel like it’s just you and your trusty degree against the world? Feel reassured in the knowledge that you won’t be the first nor the last person to find yourself in this situation… feeling fairly daunted by the prospect of what’s on the horizon. It can be an emotional journey and so, we’re here to offer some guidance with our top five books for recent graduates. Find a title that works for you…

“So, What are You Going to Do With That?”

The title of Susan Basalla and Maggie Debelius’ self-help style script is something you’re going to have to get used to hearing over the next matter of months. For an adult, who has ‘got their life sorted’, this is their favourite question. Coming towards the end of your final academic year, and throughout the following year, unless you have already landed the job of your dream, you are going to be debating staying on in education. As the authors explain, remaining with academia is in no means a negative, however don’t feel afflicted to stay, and certainly don’t if you’re only doing so to fill time. The book goes on to respond to the question with a solid answer, giving you clarity in what your post-graduate life will entail.

“The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”

Not all the successes in your graduate life will hinge upon your ability to develop a killer curriculum vitae. At university, you may have realised that you ended up putting yourself under unnecessary stress, simply because you couldn’t find the book you were looking for. As opposed to tidying on a daily basis, Marie Kondo walks us through her guide in how cleaning up once and for all will have one of the most significant impacts on our day to day lives. The author suggests how a thorough decluttering will translate into massively increased productivity.

“Make Your Bed: Little Things that Can Change Your Life”

Admiral William McRaven, a retired US Navy SEAL, delivered a speech to the University of Texas, which has received more than ten million views on YouTube. Talking about his career, he noted how when he was training, he seen the task of making a perfect bed every morning fairly mundane and in some respects pointless, as he was going on to become a fighter. Now however, William, the author of Make Your Bed, sees carrying out that simplistic task at the start of each and every day as the most important thing — as that is the first challenge of the day achieved. The book goes on to talk the reader through the ten ‘life-changing principles’ which Admiral McRaven picked up during his time in service, and how these steps will help create a better you and give you a better relationship with the world.

The 2-Hour Job Search: Using Technology to Get the Right Job Faster

Steve Dalton’s 2012 manual will prove a trusted companion to graduates, and anyone currently seeking work alike. Despite the fact the internet has provided us with the opportunity to sift through a wide range of jobs that previously we might never have known about — actually managing to find the one for us can prove to be a rather complex task. Organisation is the key focus of Dalton’s piece of work, as he points to the different ways in which technology can be used to whittle down their search.

How to Win Friends and Influence People

Okay, so once you’ve managed to land a job, despite the fact it may only be a stop-gap, you need to make friends, otherwise your journey is going to be an incredibly tedious one. Unlike university, this isn’t going to be an easy experience. The first day in a new job isn’t going to be like the first day walking into university, because frankly, at this stage, not everyone will be in the same boat. You might be the most likeable person on this side of the Atlantic but that doesn’t mean everyone will warm to you.

In 2018, Warren Buffet was ranked as the third richest person in the world, and he credits this 1936 book with transforming his life. The American businessman and philanthropist found up a copy of Dale Carnegie’s guide on his grandfather’s bookshelf and suggests he has applied it through his career. Having shifted over 15 million copies worldwide, the book is ranked within the top 100 best-selling books ever and is certainly a must read, regardless of your situation.

Life is not something to fear, it is something to embrace, but hopefully with the help of these guides, you can successfully better yourself and prepare for the challenge ahead.

“The students (and staff) loved it – they are still talking about it. So thank you!” Winterhill School, Rotherham

Now is the best time to talk to us about bringing our popular production of A Christmas Carol to your school in the autumn term. Booking is open, and dates are being reserved for schools across the country. To ensure you have the pick of dates available, please contact us soon.

Returning for a third tour, A Christmas Carol, directed this year by Tracey Street, has proven popular with schools across the country. Either as a timely introduction to Dickens’s novella, or a great revision tool, we’ve found staff really appreciate our faithfulness to the text and our fresh and exciting retelling of the familiar story.

These are principles we follow in all of our in-school performances. This year we have have six amazing productions, for all of which you may reserve dates now.

Designed with the needs of your GCSE students in mind we have…

A CHRISTMAS CAROL(available from 14 October to 20 December)

MACBETH(available from 20 January to 07 February and 24 February to 08 May)

JEKYLL AND HYDE(available from 24 February to 08 May)

ROMEO AND JULIET(available from 03 to 14 February and 02 March to 08 May)

New for next year: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING(available from 02 March to 08 May)

And for your younger students…

FRED’S SHAKESPEAREANCE(available now and throughout the coming year)

Our fun-packed three hour introduction to Shakespeare, his life and works, designed for students who are about to embark on studying the Bard

Six professional actors perform our GCSE text-based productions; we feel fewer than six compromises quality. All Fred Theatre staff attending your school are DBS checked, trained in child safeguarding and experienced in the idiosyncrasies of in-school performances.

Teachers appreciate our commitment to the text and producing a faithful rendition of the original, just a little shorter! And, all we need to perform at your school is a space approximately 5m x 5m with room (of course) for the audience.

From October, we’re extending our time with you and your students to two hours. This enables us to include an interactive element between the cast and audience as part of the session. During this time there will be a discussion of the play’s themes, characters, how we approached the production, and choices made in rehearsal. There will also be a chance for you and your students to ask questions.

We are equally happy to run this as a continuous two hour session, or include a short break following the performance, whatever you feel will work best for you and your students.

Every student receives a programme that, along with cast and crew details, includes notes on the production and text, as well as support material for them to use in the interactive post-show session. Students will be able to keep these for use in class and as a valuable revision aid.

Also, from October, we will provide you with copies of information sheets, for distribution to students ahead of our being with you. These will provide valuable information about the text and production and we’re sure your students will want to keep them with their class notes to use in revision. These sheets will help build a sense of anticipation ahead of the performance, encouraging students to value our visit to your school, and make the most of their opportunity to learn from it.

As in previous years, we are happy to provide additional workshops if this is of interest to you. These are devised through discussion with you, and delivered by a member of our skilled education team. We can also arrange visits from our directors and artistic director.

To discuss any aspect of a visit from Fred Theatre to your school, please feel free to contact me or a member of our tour administration team. You can call us on 01789 777612 or email:

The Casio FX 83GT+ has been the UK’s best selling scientific calc…and deservedly so. It’s been setting the pace in many UK schools and is the first choice for GCSE exams for many students.

But now there is an alternative…… It’s the Logik LK 83XP which has almost all the features of the FX 83GT Plus (no verify or recurring decimal) and with one big advantage…… it’s dual power. This combination of battery and solar power prolongs battery life and gives extra reassurance for your students when used in exams.

The LK 83XP has a THREE year guarantee* and is suitable for all exams where a calculator is allowed. Features include: 252 functions, “natural (true) display,” check, correct and replay, stats. calculations, prime factorisation, hard plastic keys, slide on case, etc.

It’s a calc which can see your students all the way from year 7 to GCSE and at a surprisingly modest price, from just £5.25 ex vat.

The forecast shortfall of almost 400,000 social care staff by 2028 due to low pay and Britain’s departure from the European Union is a staggering figure, but it came as a conclusion in the ‘Fair Care: A workforce strategy for social care’ report, from the Institute for Public Policy and Research. We’ve teamed up with Acorn Stairlifts, an award-winning stairlift provider, to highlight that there are many opportunities available for focusing your career around the care industry though. Here’s five job roles which are worth considering…

Care worker

The key aim of a care worker is to ensure that patients can live as independently as possible, providing daily assistance in everyday tasks. You will be tasked to support people with their social and physical activities, as well as matters related to personal care and mobility.

Entry requirements

There are multiple options when it comes to career routes into a care role, ranging from apprenticeships, direct application to a vacancy, through a college course or by regular volunteering.

For those select the option of a college course, a wide variety of care industry programs exist — obtaining a Level 1 Certificate in Health and Social Care, for instance, or a Level 2 Diploma in Care.

Voluntary work for a relevant organisation is another possible entry system, meanwhile both lead adult care worker advanced apprenticeships and adult care worker intermediate apprenticeships can see you securing a permanent position as a care worker too.

Often, having prior experience of working with people is a desirable attribute in candidates who apply directly to an advertised vacancy, as training will generally be provided on the job. GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (or A* to C) in English and Maths, or equivalent qualifications, may also be requested from some employers.

Essential skills

A prospective recruit will have developed the following skills:

Be able to accept criticism.

Be able to communicate verbally in an exceptional manner.

Be able to pay attention to detail.

Be able to work effectively while under pressure.

Be patient and know how to remain calm even in stressful situations.

Have the ability to work well with others.

Showcase customer service skills.

Day-to-day duties to expect

Assisting a client with matters of personal care, including dressing, using the toilet and washing.

Assisting a client when it comes to how they pay bills, manage their budget and write letters.

Preparing food and then feeding a client, as well as giving out medication.

Taking the time to get to know a client, including their needs and interests.

Undertaking general tasks, such as housework, laundry and shopping.

Expected salary

According to Totaljobs, the average salary for care worker jobs is £16,622.

Jobs available*

Care home manager

Become a care home manager and both the leadership and day-to-day running of a residential care home will be your responsibility. Your tasks will ensure the facility meets industry standards, while you should also expect to manage budgets and contracts in place throughout the organisation.

Entry requirements

Going to university, completing an apprenticeship and progressing into the role by working in the care industry are all routes available which could see you becoming a care home manager.

Opt for the university route and you’ll want to study either a foundation degree, a higher national diploma or a degree in an associated subject such as health and social care management to begin with. Once you’ve completed your selected university course, you’ll want to apply for a place on a graduate trainee scheme.

Higher apprenticeships for children, young people and family managers are available too, if you would rather take this route. You can also start on an apprenticeship for care leadership and management, though take note that additional on-the-job training will be required once you’ve obtained this qualification.

If you already have a job in the care industry, there is the option to apply for training towards a role such as a deputy manager. You should be looking to begin studying for the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services, where you’ll get six pathways to select from:

Management of Adult Services

Management of Adult Residential Services

Practice in Adult Services

Management of Children and Young People’s Services

Management of Children and Young People’s Residential Services

Practice in Children and Young People’s Services

Essential skills

To be successful as a care home manager, you’ll need to showcase the following skills:

Be able to accept criticism.

Be able to understand a person’s reactions.

Be able to work effectively while under pressure.

Have knowledge about the English language.

Have knowledge about the subject of psychology.

Have the ability to work well with others.

Showcase customer service skills.

The ability to carry out counselling, such as active listening and how to take a non-judgmental approach.

Day-to-day duties to expect

Agreeing to contracts, budgeting and fundraising opportunities.

Assisting care home residents so that they can access local services.

Carrying out tasks to ensure a facility meets all legal requirement, such as those related to aspects of health and safety.

Delivering advice, information and support to care home residents, their families and other staff members at the facility.

Encouraging care home residents to participate in activities.

Monitoring the quality of care and business performance of a care home.

Promoting the rights and duties of care home residents.

Recruiting staff members, as well as training and supervising them.

Setting out practices and policies.

Expected salary

A salary prediction according to Totaljobs outlines the average pay for care home manager jobs as £37,500.

Jobs available*

Residential support worker

The standard duties of a residential support worker include looking after the mental and physical wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults within the care system.

Entry requirements

Like a care worker, you can secure work as a residential support worker by completing a college course, an apprenticeship, direct application or voluntary work with a relevant organisation.

Choices for college courses are vast, but it could be beneficial to look for awards such as the Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People’s Workforce, the Level 2 Certificate or Diploma in Youth Work Practice, the Level 2 Diploma in Work Preparation for Health and Social Care, or the Level 2 GCSE in Health and Social Care.

Progression from a role as a support worker within a children’s home, a care home or hostel is a route often taken to gain the role of a residential support worker, while some choose to complete an adult care worker intermediate apprenticeship instead.

If you are considering applying directly for a residential support worker position that’s become available, paid or voluntary experience within the social work and care sector is a sought-after experience for most employers.

Essential skills

Demonstrate these skills successfully in order to be shortlisted for any position as a a residential support worker:

Be able to communicate verbally in an exceptional manner.

Be able to pay attention to detail.

Be able to work effectively while under pressure.

Be patient and know how to remain calm even in stressful situations.

Have the ability to work well with others.

Showcase customer service skills.

Day-to-day duties to expect

Assisting residents when they have problems.

Communicating with the families of residents.

Educating residents about daily living skills, which could include aspects of budgeting, shopping and how to claim benefits.

Helping residents to become independent.

Hosting group therapy sessions.

Keeping an eye on the needs of a resident, as well as their progress.

Providing a resident with physical care, which might include bathing, dressing, feeding and toileting.

Providing counselling on a one-to-one basis.

Setting up creative and leisure activities within a safe and supportive environment.

Setting up both home and family visits for residents.

Expected salary

For residential support worker jobs, Totaljobs listed an average salary of £19,000.

Jobs available*

Advocacy worker

An advocacy worker is the port of call for patients in care homes who want to voice their opinions and wishes. As well as providing support to vulnerable people, they will also make sure each resident’s best interests have been considered whenever decisions are made about their lives.

Entry requirements

Interested in a career as an advocacy worker? There are opportunities to get into this role by studying a college course, volunteering, applying directly or taking a course which is run by a private training provider.

When looking for relevant college courses, consider that both a Level 2 Certificate in Health and Social Care or a Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care will be desired by employers. However, be aware that at least two GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (or A* to D) are often required to access a Level 2 course, while four or five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (or A* to C) are usually needed to get on a Level 3 course.

It is possible to volunteer as an advocate too. This route proves appealing as it’s a great way to obtain experience in the role, while volunteers receive both support and training so that they can develop their skills too.

For those who already work in a care home, direct application to an advocacy role is a potential way to secure a new role in advocacy. The experience that you’ve already gained from your time doing care work, social work or counselling is bound to allow you to stand out, though it’s important that you showcase an understanding of the needs of older citizens and display a positive attitude to ageing.

Furthermore, nationally recognised qualifications exist and they cover a wealth of essential modules in advocacy work, and they are generally courses provided by private training initiatives.

Essential skills

These skills are key for fulfilling an ambition to become an advocacy worker:

Be able to pay attention to detail.

Be able to work effectively while under pressure.

Be patient and know how to remain calm even in stressful situations.

Have knowledge about the subject of psychology.

Have the ability to work well with others.

Showcase customer service skills.

The ability to carry out counselling, such as active listening and how to take a non-judgemental approach.

Day-to-day realities

Assisting residents to explore the options available to them and how to make informed choices about them.

Assisting residents so that they can speak for themselves, as well as be able to speak on their behalf where necessary.

Attending meetings with residents to provide moral support, as well as attend meetings on their behalf where necessary.

Ensuring residents always have access to their care plan.

Ensuring residents are always being treated in a fair manner and with dignity.

Negotiating with others who are involved in decisions being made at a care home.

Researching information regarding the care industry and then explaining the details to relevant parties.

Expected salary

Data from Totaljobs places the average salary for advocacy jobs at £29,000.

Jobs available*

Nurse

A nurse provides care for patients who have an injury, physical disabilities or an illness. Within the care industry, they will perform clinical tasks to assist individuals who are based within a nursing home or within the community.

Entry requirements

A University degree or an apprenticeship are recognised career paths for nursing recruits.

University courses in adult nursing are available at numerous institutions, and they are approved by the Nursing & Midwifery Council. Alternatively, there could be the chance to start studying for a nursing degree on the second year of a course if you’ve already obtained a degree in life sciences, psychology, social work or a health-related subject.

Apprenticeship degrees are an ever-popular option for nursing students, as they provide a mixture of academic learning and practical experience in a care unit. It is important to be aware that support from your employer must be provided in order for you to work your way along this route though.

Essential skills

Any prospective nurse will need to have the following skill set:

Be able to pay attention to detail.

Be able to work effectively while under pressure.

Be patient and know how to remain calm even in stressful situations.

Have knowledge about the subject of psychology.

Have the ability to work well with others.

Showcase customer service skills.

Showcase thinking and reasoning skills.

A day in the life of a nurse

Clean and dress wounds.

Monitor the progress of patients.

Provide advice to both patients and their relatives.

Provide residents with drugs prescribed to them.

Provide residents with necessary injections.

Set up drips and blood transfusions.

Take the blood pressure, pulse rate and temperature of a resident.

Expected salary

Totaljobs have pinpointed the average salary for a qualified nurse at £31,787.

Apparently yes, it is possible, because so far over 100,000 secondary school students have watched the theatrical presentation “Alphabet of a Teenager” in their own school. Feedback from teachers has been universally positive.

What these students have seen is a production that covers 36 PSHE issues in one 60 minute performance.

The play follows a teenager as he reflects on how his life has changed over his time at school, the friends he’s made along the way and the trials and tribulations of teenage life. The performance encompasses drugs and alcohol education, emotional health and wellbeing, work-related learning, racism and cyber safety.

Alphabet of a Teenager was put together with a consortium of educators, writers and performers ensuring that it works for pupils and students every time – and with productions having taken place in over 800 schools, we can certainly verify that this is the case.

There are also optional follow up workshops which delve deeper into the issues raised.

The Casio FX 83 GT+ was the UK’s best selling scientific calc for many years……and deservedly so. It set the pace in many UK schools & colleges and was the first choice for GCSE exams for many schools.

But now it’s been discontinued, having been replaced by an upgraded spec’ model at a higher price. Top grade maths students are likely to benefit from this new model (FX83GTX), but what about the majority, for whom the FX83GT+ was perfectly adequate and available at a reasonable price?

Well, the news is positive. There is an alternative……

It’s the Logik LK 83XP which has a similar keyboard and almost all the features of the FX 83GT Plus but with one big advantage…… it’s dual power. This combination of battery and solar power prolongs battery life and gives students extra reassurance, especially when used in exams.

The LK 83XP has a THREE year guarantee* and is suitable for all exams where a calculator is allowed. Features include: 252 functions, “natural (textbook) display,” check, correct and replay, stats calculations, prime factorisation, hard plastic keys, slide on case etc.

It’s a calc which can see your students all the way from year 7 to GCSE and at a surprisingly modest price. From £ 5.25 ex vat. (*excludes LCD damage)

To rectify the current deficiencies in funding children’s mental health and other emotional and behaviour issues of primary school pupils the All Party Parliamentary Group for a Fit and Healthy Childhood has published the Child Mental Health Charter which builds upon the themes of the APPG’s 12th report ‘Children’s Mental Health Beyond the Green Paper: The Role of Practice-Based Evidence.’

The Charter is a blueprint for the Bill. It already has the support of 30 MPs but just as important is your support. If successful there will be more funding for primary schools to support training and therapy.

Most schools use wall art to enhance noticeboards and to ensure that pupils are fully informed about school policy and procedure and also to deliver key messages.

Travelling around the UK we see thousands of posters on school noticeboards on our travels, some of which really do enhance key messages.

The posters within the realms of PSHE often have to be created by schools themselves and therefore don’t have the same flair and design quality as other subjects.

We’ve also not been able to find a company who produce a digital download variation of their posters, for you to print at school.

Whilst a poster arriving delivered is important and time saving, it can also be costly and overlooks the fact that most schools have reprographics who can print posters in any size of premium print quality.

Digital download options in A1-A4 are an option for our PSHE posters and the A4 size starts at £3.99, with an A1 poster costing £7.99 – manageable for almost any PSHE budget.

We have a poster on the facts about bullying, celebrating diversity, facts about drugs and alcohol, revision techniques and a few posters on informed choices.

The Casio FX 83GT+ has been the UK’s best selling scientific calc…and deservedly so. It’s been setting the pace in many UK schools and is the first choice for GCSE exams for many students.

But now there is an alternative…… It’s the Logik LK 83XP which has almost all the features of the FX 83GT Plus (no verify or recurring decimal) and with one big advantage…… it’s dual power. This combination of battery and solar power prolongs battery life and gives extra reassurance for your students when used in exams.

The LK 83XP has a THREE year guarantee* and is suitable for all exams where a calculator is allowed. Features include: 252 functions, “natural (true) display,” check, correct and replay, stats. calculations, prime factorisation, hard plastic keys, slide on case, etc.

It’s a calc which can see your students all the way from year 7 to GCSE and at a surprisingly modest price, from just £5.25 ex vat.

Imagine a child who has a total grasp of a subject – perhaps history, or geography, or French, or maths.

But now imagine that same child without the ability effectively to communicate her or his knowledge. As far as the rest of the world is concerned that young person simply hasn’t learned.

Of course this is an extreme case, but in essence every child with poor communication skills has difficulties – not just in self-expression but also in listening and understanding.

In short the child with communication problems has difficulties with every aspect of learning.

And this problem affects a huge number of children. Ican, for example, has suggested that at least 10% of young people across the UK have communication difficulties severe enough to be hindering their learning, and causing difficulties in areas such as problem-solving and maintaining relationships.

To overcome this problem what is needed is a way for children to learn effective two-way interactive communication so that they can participate both in the formal side of their education and the social side of being at school.

But the problem is, how can this be arranged within the current financial situation?

NLP4kids works in this area with many schools around the UK, and our work includes helping schools access government funding specifically set aside for this sort of project – thus effectively making our services available free of charge to the school.

If you would like to know more about our work in improving students’ communication skills and about the funding, please do have a look at our communication skills webpage.

To discuss the options without any obligation please do call 0345 3192 666 or 0203 6677 294 or email me at gemma@NLP4Kids.org

The Child Mental Health Charter was launched on 11th March. It has evolved from the ‘Children’s Mental Health beyond the Green Paper,’ report published on 30th January 2019 produced by a range of experts and practitioners, members of the All Party Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood.

It enshrines six broadly-based principles which can be used immediately as a definitive set of de-facto standards for all those working therapeutically with children in primary schools with the objective of improving the safety and effectiveness of practice. It will also enhance the credibility of the school as caring for their pupils and supporting parents.

The Charter calls upon the Government to make this the blueprint to reform the 1983 Mental Health Act in 2019. The report also urges that more funding is made available to primary schools for the training of school staff and employment in a therapeuticrole, together with joined up working with other services. A campaign has just been launched to gather a large number of supporters to help achieve these objectives more quickly.

Six marvellous productions – a more inter-active experience – greater learner support

Here at Fred Theatre H.Q. we are very excited about our plans for the upcoming school year. We are bringing back popular productions from this year, adding to them, and making a few changes to what we offer. Altogether, these will give you and your students a more exciting and valuable experience.

We have six amazing productions, for all of which you may reserve dates from today.

Designed with the needs of your GCSE students in mind we have…

A CHRISTMAS CAROL(available from 14 October to 20 December)

MACBETH(available from 20 January to 07 February and 24 February to 08 May)

JEKYLL AND HYDE(available from 24 February to 08 May)

ROMEO AND JULIET(available from 03 to 14 February and 02 March to 08 May)

New for next year: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING(available from 02 March to 08 May)

And for your younger students…

FRED’S SHAKESPEAREANCE(available now and throughout the coming year)Our fun-packed three hour introduction to Shakespeare, his life and works, designed for students who are about to embark on studying the Bard

Six professional actors perform our GCSE text-based productions; we feel a smaller cast compromises quality. All Fred Theatre staff attending your school are DBS checked, trained in child safeguarding and experienced in the idiosyncrasies of in-school performances.

Teachers appreciate our commitment to the text and producing a faithful rendition of the original, just a little shorter! And, all we need to perform at your school is a space approximately 5m x 5m with room (of course) for the audience.

From October, we’re extending our time with you and your students to two hours. This enables us to include an interactive element between the cast and audience as part of the session. During this time there will be a discussion of the play’s themes, characters, how we approached the production, and choices made in rehearsal. There will also be a chance for you and your students to ask questions.

We are equally happy to run this as a continuous two hour session, or include a short break following the performance, whatever you feel will work best for you and your students.

Every student receives a programme that, along with cast and crew details, includes notes on the production and text, as well as support material for them to use in the interactive post-show session. Students will be able to keep these for use in class and as a valuable revision aid.

Also, from October, we will provide you with copies of information sheets, for distribution to students ahead of our being with you. These will provide valuable information about the text and production and we’re sure your students will want to keep them with their class notes to use in revision. These sheets will help build a sense of anticipation ahead of the performance, encouraging students to value our visit to your school, and make the most of their opportunity to learn from it.

As in previous years, we are happy to provide additional workshops if this is of interest to you. These are devised through discussion with you, and delivered by a member of our skilled education team. We can also arrange visits from our directors and artistic director.

To discuss any aspect of a visit from Fred Theatre to your school, please feel free to contact me or a member of our tour administration team. You can call us on 01789 777612 or email:

The Casio FX 83 GT+ was the UK’s best selling scientific calc…and deservedly so. It’s been setting the pace in many UK schools & colleges and was the first choice for GCSE exams for many students.

But now it’s been discontinued, having been replaced by an upgraded spec’ model at a higher price. Top grade maths students are likely to benefit from this new model (FX83GTX), but what about the majority, for whom the FX83GT+ was perfectly adequate and available at a reasonable price?

Well, the news is positive. There is an alternative……

It’s the Logik LK 83XP which has almost all the features of the FX 83GT Plus but with one big advantage…… it’s dual power. This combination of battery and solar power prolongs battery life and gives students extra reassurance, especially when used in exams.

The LK 83XP has a THREE year guarantee* and is suitable for all exams where a calculator is allowed. Features include: 252 functions, “natural (textbook) display,” check, correct and replay, stats calculations, prime factorisation, hard plastic keys, slide on case, etc.

It’s a calc which can see your students all the way from year 7 to GCSE and at a surprisingly modest price. (*excludes LCD damage)

The rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated

Mark Twain’s famous comment made, supposedly, on reading an obituary of himself while on a lecture tour in England might equally have been applied these last few years not to Mark Twain himself but to the whole concept of books in their printed form.

The printed book is dead, digital is king, we were told. And yet, and yet…

The printed book does not just struggle on, it is thriving. While sales of electronic books have started to decline, sales of printed books are rapidly recovering.

And one can understand why from several points of view.

For example, with the cost of quality paperback books having declined to as little as £1.88 each (with no minimum order and no delivery charge) many schools are taking the opportunity to reintroduce students to a revitalised school library.

Others are choosing a set of books and offering students the chance to take one book each to read, report back on it to the whole class, and then keep the copy of the volume for themselves.

Indeed the choice in fact is enormous. If you would like to see our full list, grouped into collections, please take a look at this page from our website.

But if this all seems to be too good to be true we also have our offer of a free book just in case you have not come across Wordsworth Editions before.

To receive a free sample of one of our classics without any obligation whatsoever just email education@wordsworth-editions.com with your name and the school address, and we’ll put it in the post to you with our compliments.

Ordering, likewise is simple. For the books are supplied for us by Bookpoint Ltd, and there is a very high chance in percentage terms that you will have an existing accounts. You can find full details on our website.

I do hope you will have a look at what we have to offer, and join thousands of other schools that are relishing this revised interest in the printed, as opposed to the digital.

It’s not easy to ensure that every student comes to school or college properly equipped for lessons or exams.

Some may simply have woken up late and left home in a rush. Some might benefit from being better organised while others need to learn to be a bit more responsible.

What we do know, however, is that time is often wasted at the start of lessons while some students try to borrow what they need to benefit from their lesson.

All it needs is for a few students to forget a pen, ruler, pencil etc and what was supposed to be a well planned, interesting lesson can become unproductive if some students are ready and able to work while others are not.

But NOW there’s a simple, effective and low cost way of solving the problem ….it’s the “STUDENT ESSENTIALS” set.

Consisting of, three quality black ink pens, two full length HB pencils, a 15 cm ruler, pencil sharpener, eraser, all contained in a clear “exam friendly” PVC wallet with a zip slider…. From just 85p each, ex vat it’s a simple and effective way of improving productivity and helping students succeed in their lessons and exams. …not to mention making life easier for teaching staff.

Staff might like to keep “Student Essentials” sets in the school or department office and then sell or give to students when the need arises.

Every now and again I get to chat with teachers and one of the topics that often crops up is why some students don’t bring a pen, pencil, ruler etc to their lessons. They tell me that this leads to wasted time and a measure of disruption, even before teaching has begun.

In an attempt to solve this problem there’s a product called the “Value Maths set ” which, as the name suggests, contains all the basics that students need for their maths lessons.

From just £ 1.25 each (ex vat) the “Value Maths set” is a convenient and cost effective solution to the problem of students who haven’t brought the correct kit to their maths lessons. Ideal to give or sell to students at the start of lessons or at the start of a school day……… also very useful for exams.

With technology continuously evolving and pushing the building industry to more complex and advanced heights, the question to consider is: what does this mean for our builders? If technology is becoming an increasing presence in physical tasks, will our builders of the future be more akin to programmers?

The concern of robots stealing jobs

It’s not a baseless worry, that one day robots might be able to do our jobs quicker and cheaper. Technology will not steal our jobs, but just replace us as we shift roles. But how will this impact the construction industry?

Let’s take a look at the numbers. Boston Consulting Group has said that by 2025, up to a quarter of jobs will be replaced by smart software or robots. This includes a range of professions, from factory workers to doctors, and even journalists. However, a study carried out by Oxford University has said that 35% of existing jobs in Britain are at risk of automation in the next 20 years.

It is not yet certain whether this will impact the number of physical workers. However, this can be challenged if we start preparing early and encourage current and future workers to adapt to the changes. This could include advancing their own skillset with a focus on how they can do their job better with the use of technology.

The change of roles in construction

But even if our workforce becomes increasingly more robotic, that’s not to say we would all be out of work — after all, someone needs to manage this technology. It’s also left unmentioned that workers will need to use technology, and that leads us to the decision that in the construction industry, builders of the future will become programmers. Over the years, we have seen constant changes in the way we work, and the construction sector has been very accepting to new and innovative methods to make jobs easier. From hammers to nail guns, shovels to diggers — and now practical labour to programming.

This is something that will naturally take time. Programming is a topic that schools around the UK should be looking to implement into their curriculums as a core subject to keep up with the demand of jobs and to keep up with the constant changes in technology. If we’re teaching young people old ways, they will be useless when it comes to doing the work and there might not even be jobs available that match their skillsets. With the constant growth in technology surrounding construction, young people need to be prepared with the skills and this shouldn’t be up for debate. Like the studies discussed earlier, more jobs are at risk of being lost due to smart software and robots. Workers need to be as good as the technology.

One piece of beneficial construction software already within the industry is Building Information Modellings (BIM). This technology allows the appropriate people to access all of the information about a project in one place. It can look at key stages of a project across the lifecycle of a job and provide the information that is needed. This can save both time and money for any construction company and allows builders to have a clear oversight. BIM can help illustrate the entire building, from starting processes to its demolition, and can even show how materials can be reused.

Workers will need to adapt to these changes within the industry in order to pick up more technological skills.

Almost certainly anger has been a human emotion since our species first evolved. For it has great survival benefits in warding off rivals and predators and helping establish tribal hierarchy.

However, in most schools teenagers are not faced by predators, and there is already a hierarchy established by the school and surrounding social structure.

But anger remains a potential in our makeup, and both children and teenagers need to have ways of overcoming the urge to express this primitive instinct at inopportune moments.

And helping students to control angry reactions both to everyday experiences and to the problems in their lives that accumulate across time can be difficult.

This difficulty can arise because we will want to offer emotional support to a student in difficulty, while at the same time having a duty towards everyone else in the class, including those who are on the receiving end of the anger.

However, there is an approach which makes it possible for students with anger issues to be fully integrated back into mainstream schooling.

This approach involves not just managing a student’s behaviour but also seeking out and dealing with the issues that are causing this behaviour as well as helping the student find the best emotional coping strategies to resolve the problem.

And this is what NLP4Kids offers: helping students communicate their thoughts and feelings with others, helping them make meaningful relationships, and ultimately helping them improve their employment opportunities all through bringing their anger under control.

If you feel that you have some students in your school who are not reaching their full potential because of anger and related issues, you may find our website helpful.

We have already worked with numerous schools across the country and now have additional time and funding available to come to your school and work with the students you nominate. There are more details of our work at http://nlp4kids.org.uk/schools-co-uk/

If you would like to discuss the options without any obligation please do call 0345 3192 666 or 0203 6677 294 or email gemma@NLP4Kids.org

Classroom chairs with a TWENTY year warranty can save your school or college hundreds of pounds AND eliminate time wasted in trying to repair damaged chairs.

Improvements in design and manufacture have meant that the quality and durability of student chairs has improved significantly. The result is that it’s now possible to obtain classroom chairs with a TWENTY year warranty.

Designed not only to be comfortable, durable and virtually vandal proof but also to encourage good posture, the “Postura Plus” chair is available in sixteen attractive colours and six sizes, making it ideal for use across different departments and in both primary and secondary sectors.

Prices from: seat height (mm) £ prices are ex vat

size:

6 460 17.95

5 430 16.95

4 380 15.35

3 350 14.85

2 310 14.65

1 260 13.98

Prices are “from…… and refer to the price per chair for a quantity of 350 +

Smaller quantities at slightly higher prices. FREE delivery to most UK postcodes for orders of more than 40 chairs…… in approx. 7-10 working days except in very busy times.

Every now and again I get to chat with teachers and one of the topics that often crops up is why some students don’t bring a pen, pencil, ruler etc to their lessons. They tell me that this leads to wasted time and a measure of disruption, even before teaching has begun.

In an attempt to solve this problem there’s a product called the “Value Maths set ” which, as the name suggests, contains all the basics that students need for their maths lessons.

From just £ 1.25 each (ex vat) the “Value Maths set” is a convenient and cost effective solution to the problem of students who haven’t brought the correct kit to their maths lessons. Ideal to give or sell to students at the start of lessons or at the start of a school day……… also very useful for exams.

Mental health has been welcomed as a well-regarded and important issue in schools throughout the last decade.

The Royal Family, celebrities and the government have, in numerous ways, contributed to the UK widely respecting this issue in schools and allowing pupils to talk through their mental health.

Support systems have been placed in schools through the length and breadth of the UK to assist students facing difficulties with their mental health and undoubtedly, your school is no exception.

Mindfulness is also increasing in popularity as a vehicle for pupils understanding the importance of sound mental health, however, many schools do not have the resources to provide a mindfulness programme linked with GCSE preparation.

A calmer and healthier mind are both, in our opinion, contributing factors to pupils receiving results commensurate with their abilities.

In our mindfulness workshop, pupils are transported into a world of safe and secure thinking. Pupils engage in a session of very basic mindfulness practise and through our guidance, it is demonstrated that it can be a useful tool to assist their calmness and focus in a sea of target grades and common anxieties.

Unlike programmes solely based around mindfulness, we couple our teachings with practical revision guidance that pupils can implement immediately to the preparation of their forthcoming exams.

Ultimately, we encourage pupils to believe in their own abilities and identify their strengths and areas where they may require additional support.

All pupils walk away with their own unique ‘time management profile’ and implement a ‘positive thinking plan’ which will help them achieve their GCSE goals.

The Debate Chamber Summer Schools offer students age 15-18 the opportunity to find out more about some fascinating subjects, prepare for university applications, meet like-minded peers and get to grips with some tough intellectual challenges.

The material will be challenging (for the older age-group, about the level of difficulty one might expect in the first year at university), but the atmosphere will be relaxed, with plenty of discussion, debate, and opportunities for students to shape the direction of classes.

Working in groups of 12 – 14 students over several days offers participants a real chance to get to know tutors and fellow students and to explore the topics or questions that particularly interest them.

The Philosophy Summer School will look at some of the biggest questions in metaphysics, ethics and political theory, giving an opportunity to engage with the work of some fascinating thinkers, and also to develop students’ own skills of reasoning and argumentation. Divided into two five-day events (students can attend either one, or both) covering a wide range of topics and thinkers, from the ancient world of Plato and Aristotle to contemporary philosophers like Nussbaum and Singer.

The Philosophy Summer School is an amazing course. It covers a wide range of topics, allowing you to find out what most interests you. Great friends are made, and the week is thoroughly enjoyable. I’d recommend this course to anyone considering studying philosophy at university in some respect, or in fact to anyone interested in the subject.

The Medicine Summer School offers a series of two-day events with specialist sessions on cardiology, paediatrics, oncology, emergency medicine and many other topics – enabling students to attend a wide-ranging introduction or select the sessions most relevant to their interests. This course gives a taste of what it is like to study Medicine, and so helps students to make an informed choice about whether this is a good fit for them.

I have enjoyed my time at Medicine Summer School very much! The tutors have been fantastic, as they have been so engaging towards all aspects of the course. The amount of information covered in only two days has been extraordinary and I feel that I am so much more aware about the topics studied at medical school. I would recommend this Summer School to anyone interested in medicine as the course really gives you the opportunity to delve a lot deeper into the area of study than your GCSEs!

The Economics Summer School focuses on political economy and macro-economics, the five-day course will include seminars on a diverse range of topics, from financial and currency markets to an analysis of economic inequality and its potential remedies. We will also be looking at development strategies in emerging economies, and the emerging impact of Brexit on the UK and other economies. The focus throughout will be on debate and discussion, and on encouraging and supporting students to engage critically and actively with the material. Separate streams for students with and without previous experience of studying the subject.

The Economics summer course is both highly informative and great fun, offering a great way to either start learning economics or to further your knowledge. It’s also a great way to meet other like-minded people who you get to know really well. Overall, the course is a great way to spend a week in summer and gives a taste of less formal learning.

In addition to these highlighted courses, we also offer courses in English Literature, History, Classical Civilisations, International Relations, Politics, Maths, Physics, and Dentistry.

Bursaries

Debate Chamber is committed to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent any student from attending our events. Students can apply for bursaries covering up to 95% of the course fee through our website.

How can my students attend?

All the Summer School events will be held at University of London venues in Bloomsbury, Central London, and will take place in July and August 2019. Please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.

Debate Chamber Science and Mathematics courses are aimed at students who enjoy an intellectual challenge, and who are curious about the ways in which their knowledge can be applied to help with real-world questions. Our courses are academically intense, with an emphasis on independent thinking and collaborative problem-solving, providing a valuable insight into university level education.

Working in groups of 12 – 14 students over several days offers participants a real chance to get to know tutors and fellow students and to explore the topics or questions that particularly interest them.

The Physics Summer School provides an opportunity for bright students to explore some of the most exciting and challenging ideas in contemporary physics. The Summer School is split into two parts: Part 1 focuses on classical mechanics and astrophysics and is open to GCSE and A-level students. Part 2 focuses on quantum mechanics and relativity and is open to students who will have completed at least one year of A-level mathematics.

‘Challenging, but great fun, the Physics course was a fantastic opportunity to gain an insight into some of the fundamental principles that govern our world, giving me a better idea of what Physics at University might be like. From learning about the abstract world of Quantum Mechanics to discussing black holes and teleportation, the course left me astounded by both the amount we already know, and how much we have yet to discover!’

The Mathematics Summer School explores a variety of advanced topics in pure and applied mathematics, including set theory; prime numbers; algorithms; infinites; multi-variable calculus; proofs; cryptography; probability theory and Turing machines. Part 1 focuses on number theory, algebra and geometry and is open to GCSE and A-level students. Part 2 focuses on calculus, proofs and infinities and is open to students who have completed at least one year of A-level mathematics.

‘It was a fantastic opportunity to discover new areas of maths that I would otherwise have not been introduced to through the A Level syllabus. I enjoyed the course and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in approaching more challenging maths problems.’

The Medicine Summer School is split into five 2-day programmes, each covering a different area of medical practice. Students will be given the opportunity to work alongside practising medical students to develop the theoretical and applied skills necessary to become a doctor.

‘Debate Chamber’s Medicine Summer School was great! I learnt in great detail about medical topics such as oncology, paediatrics and epidemiology. Suturing bananas was a highlight for me and I would thoroughly recommend the course for anyone considering medicine as a career.’

Debate Chamber is committed to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent any student from attending our events. Students can apply for bursaries covering up to 95% of the course fee through our website.

How can my students attend?

All the Summer School events will be held at University of London venues in Bloomsbury, Central London, and will take place in July and August 2019. Please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.

You can find full details of schedules, dates, costs, student reviews and tutors at www.debatechamber.com. There is a limited amount of bursary funding available for students who would otherwise have financial difficulty in attending – please see our website for details.

In 2018, over 16,000 students across the UK told us about their careers aspirations and how they access careers information. In our annual survey of school and college students, we found out that:

Over 80% of students feel as if they have little to no information about apprenticeships

45% of students want more career workshops while at school/college

71% of students want to go to university and 32% of them made this decision in primary school

We use our findings to help schools/colleges better understand the decision-making process of their students, and hence support them better with regards to careers. We provide a free bespoke report to our partners detailing:

How well-prepared your students are for the labour market

Regional and national benchmarks with other schools/colleges

Students’ assessment of the careers advice they receive

How your students would like to access careers information

In addition, it is something that can be used as a career’s guidance measuring tool in accordance with The Gatsby Benchmark.

We also work with employers to help them understand students’ views on their career options. Employers will use the insight to further improve and tailor their early careers programmes for different student groups and engage with schools/colleges in a more meaningful way.

We would really appreciate the chance to work with your school/college to make sure your pupils’ opinions and perceptions are accurately represented in the national context. All you need to do is encourage your students to take part by directing them to this link: https://bit.ly/2GPdrR9 (you can even try it out yourself!).

I’m very pleased to announce Fred Theatre’sShakespeareance. A dynamic, fun-packed, creative and interactive session, ideal for students about to embark on studying Shakespeare.

In common with teachers everywhere, I’m always on the lookout for new ideas to help Shakespeare and his works come alive for the next generation. Our new production, I reckon, does just that. It’s a fast-paced session that introduces Mr Shakespeare, his plays, and has students interact with the cast as well as create their own work.

“It was fantastic! So professional and carefully engineered to give

the students what they need.”

Parmiter’s School on Macbeth (2018)

Our team of three professional actors kick off each session with lots of fun, and occasionally (slightly) gruesome, facts about Shakespeare’s life and times.

Accompanied by music and song, we progress through extracts from a few plays, carefully providing just enough context for the students to appreciate what’s going on. The extracts pop up throughout the session and are lively, colourful and engaging.

We then move on to encourage creativity in our audience by getting students to think about what story they might tell based on either Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, The Tempest, or A Midsummer Night’s Dream. You chose!

All this is packed into a fantastic two and a half hour session (with time for a short comfort break). And, at a cost of just £525+vat we believe it’s hard to beat for value. Performances are available throughout May and June, and can be booked by contacting Helen, our tour administrator (details below).

There’s also still time to book any one of our four great in-school shows for the current academic year. Our 90- or 60-minute adaptations are fresh and exciting re-tellings of the familiar and much-loved stories. Each is performed by a cast of six professional actors and designed to give GCSE students the advantage of experiencing live theatre. Ideal as either an introduction to the text, or a timely revision tool, we concentrate on the text and producing a faithful representation of the original—just a little shorter! The four productions are:

ROMEO AND JULIET MACBETH

A CHRISTMAS CAROL JEKYLL AND HYDE

To discuss your requirements, and how we can help your students through one or more of our performances, either:

This interactive Workshop with Dr Steve Taylor, University of London & shortcuts tv, is focused exclusively on making Issues & Debates in Psychology more accessible to students & illustrating them with up-to-date research examples (such as, epigenetics for the interaction of nature/nurture).

In the near future The Davenant Press will be launching two new series for classicists. First there will be a series of short paperbacks on Greece and the Roman Empire covering the A-Level syllabus and a second more substantial paperback series, Classical Civilisation which will be pitched mainly at university level but which is also intended to help school teachers. This series will cover the A level interest but will also include Ancient History and Patristics. I am currently writing to academics for ideas and as a member of the Classical Association (Oxford Branch) I am putting it on the website.

In addition there will be a new academic journal published twice a year on Rome 423-1929.

And this is an opportunity for you to influence the content of both the paperbacks and the journal by letting me know what subject areas you would like to see covered that would help with your teaching of classics in school and preparing pupils for university.

I really am open to all suggestions, and so by way of saying thank you I will be very happy to send a free copy of Essays on Ancient Historians by Susan Sorek to the first 25 positive suggestions I receive.

If you have any thoughts at all on subject areas or topics within the classics that you would like to see covered in the new journal “Rome 425 to 1929” please just email me at judithdavenant@gmail.com. If you would like a copy of “Essays on Ancient Historians” just give me your postal address.

Learning to type with speed and accuracy is one of the most useful skills a child can learn. It increases their confidence in using a computer, whilst enabling them to concentrate on learning content rather than typing mechanics. Once learned, it’s a skill that lasts a life-time.

At Type&Test, we’re the UK’s foremost provider of online typing training and assessment tools for pupils of all ages and abilities. We offer a range of options for schools including engaging online learning, delivered through a dedicated secure portal, with up to 60 hours of varied content, pre and post assessments, tracked and measurable results, personalised completion certificates and an optional accredited qualification that is eligible for funding.

To find out more, without commitment, please complete and submit our schools enquiry form. Or give us a call on 017683 42821.

Our new online, video-based e-Learning courses will provide important CPD approved training for your staff at a time and pace to fit around their work commitments – all at a tiny fraction of the price of conventional training.

All our courses are of the highest quality, using video to illustrate and engage the learner. Content is kept up to date constantly. Each course includes a series of assessments which lead to a completion certificate, especially important where training is regulatory. And most will earn CPD points for each individual learner.

For schools we offer flexible credit schemes with massive discounts against the individual prices shown on our web site. Please click here to make a no-commitment enquiry and we’ll send you a price quotation.

Is this due to differing religious beliefs and philosophy, desire for power and land, or just pure hatred?

Our balanced talks by a Muslim and a Jew together provide new insights, useful for both GCSE and A level exams as well as PSHE, into the various conflicts, and explain differing political and historic claims, and the effect of the differences between Sunni and Shia Islam.

The Casio FX 85GT+ and the Logik LK 83XP are excellent choices for your

GCSE maths students. They both benefit from battery power with solar power back-up to provide extra reassurance for your students. Both calcs have a “natural display” function which enables students to enter expressions and data as shown in textbooks. As you would expect the build quality of both calcs is excellent and they benefit from a THREE year warranty. (excludes damage to the LCD).

The LogikLK 83XP has similar features to the CasioFX 85GT+ but without the “verify” and “recurring decimal” functions. Both calcs feature prime factorisation, random numbers, algebraic logic, multi-line replay, standard deviation, log / anti-log, hyperbolics etc and have a three year warranty and are available at short notice from Signpost Educational Ltd., The Logik LK 83XP is available from £ 5.25 each ex vat while the Casio FX 85GT+ starts from £ 7.85 each ex vat.

Is a career in graphic design your ultimate dream job? For many people it is as it invites those with an artistic flair to express themselves creatively every day in their workplace role. So, how do you determine the type of design role to go after and what’s the best route to secure a job in this sector?

There are many design roles out there… choose one that best suit you
Designers are sought after in a range of industries, from marketing agencies to illustration companies. It’s true that you could find yourself in any sector, but what roles are out there?

A role in branding
Design is a big part of branding for many companies. It helps them project their message to a target market and create a memorable brand image. Some companies have design teams in-house and others outsource to marketing and design agencies. It’s down to you to decide which environment you think you’d enjoy most. In an agency role for example, you could be working with a variety of businesses and projects all at one. As part of an in-house team, you’d work solely with that brand.

How does a branding project work? Here, you’d work closely with the company to determine target markets and talk about how the brand can be best represented visually.

A role in typography
What is a typographer? These people are trained in the design of type and lettering, another important part of creating visuals. As you’re probably aware, a logo or the typography of a company can become widely recognisable by customers — take Coca Cola for example.

This type of role appeals to people who are interested in lettering styles and getting creative with words. This is quite a niche area, therefore many designers specialise in this alongside other areas of design.

A role in editorial design
Editorial design is the process of designing magazines books and newspapers — for both online and offline publications. This type of design requires an eye for composition, layout and aesthetically pleasing typography.To succeed as an editorial designer, you should have the following qualities:
• The ability to recognise attractive content
• Understand what the reader wants to see on the page
• Be skilled in the layout of images and content

A role in illustration
A common role for illustrators is a job in animation. Or, you might find yourself in a company role who require illustrations to spread their brand message or inform their audience.

Some illustrators become specialised too in subjects such as science, technology and medicine. Here, they create imagery for text books and material to help readers understand the subject.

These jobs are only a selection of what you could be exposed to as a designer. Conduct plenty of research to find the job that you’re most interested in.

Studying and work experience
Although a lot of design roles are about your creativity, there are some things you can do in terms of work experience and studying.
The first thing to consider is a university degree, perhaps in graphic design. Each course is different, depending on the university but most of them cover the following topics:
• The influences of graphic design
• Styles of typography
• How branding and design comes together

To get accepted onto an undergraduate course like this, you’re often asked to bring a portfolio of your work. Through an Art and Design related GCSE or A-level you can start to discover your own style and use the work to create a portfolio for the future.

Gaining some work experience can come in handy too. Why not get in touch with a local design agency or local business? If you don’t mind working unpaid, it’s likely that businesses will take you up on your offer. During university, take the opportunity to do a year in industry too. You’ll hopefully learn more about the industry you’re most interested in and can gain some extra experience to add to your CV!

On Friday 22 March and Saturday 23 March, Study Options will be holding Australian University Open Days. These are free information events aimed at students (and schools) who would like to find out more about university options in Australia.

Many representatives from Australian universities will be present at the events to speak with prospective students in person. Study Options’ Open Days are held twice a year, in March and November, and are a great opportunity for students to get more information and talk to representatives from the universities face-to-face. For the majority of the universities, these are the only in-person events they undertake in the UK.

There is a lot more information available at www.studyoptionsopendays.com regarding venues, opening times and how to register. Please do let us know if you have any questions or if there is any further information we can provide.

Five years of preparation towards the all-important exams create a plethora of challenges along the way, alongside which schools are expected to prepare pupils for the real world.

Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development now forms an integral portion of the OFSTED handbook which declares that an outstanding school would have a “thoughtful and wide-ranging promotion of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.”

Thus, the question arises: Can one workshop surrounding ‘Mindfulness’ truly have an impact on pupils’ GCSE results?

Since relaxation, stillness and focus can have a direct impact on exam performance it does seem that it may be able to make a difference.

Many schools have already turned to Mindfulness practice, especially in relation to revision techniques, as well as every day school life.

Our Mindfulness workshop is coupled with practical revision and homework techniques that are born out of the same focus and stillness.

Preachy clichés are kept at bay and, before any practical exploration, pupils gain a sense of what mindfulness practice actually is and how some people choose to apply it to their lives.

Pupils leave with their own unique ‘time management profile’ and are able to implement a ‘positive thinking plan’ to go alongside their academic revision plan. Perhaps it really could have an influence on the results in that brown envelope in August?

Imagine a child going home after school and volunteering to his/her parents the story of what happened during the day (rather than waiting to be asked, and then offering the shortest of answers).

And imagine further that what the child chooses to talk about is the school assembly, with parents also bringing up the subject when they attend a parents evening, talking to you about how certain assemblies have really made an impact on their child.

Of course, you may well find this happens from time to time, with the parents spontaneously mentioning assemblies, but even if so you will know that there is a constant pressure to find more and more assemblies that grab attention and give children insights into the moral, personal and social world in which they live.

It was to provide such assemblies that my colleagues and I began to contemplate what made certain assemblies have a really strong influence on the children we teach.

We knew, of course, that we needed to create assemblies that were original, and which also met the social and emotional needs of the children who attend them and offer a focus on the values that the school wishes to present to the children.

As a result we have produced a set of over 350 assemblies with each one categorised and indexed, each of which is instantly available and fully scripted.

You can read a full example of one of our assemblies by following this link Additionally you can see the complete list of the categories and from there you can go into each category and see the details of all the assemblies on offer.

Apparently yes, it is possible, because so far over 100,000 pupils have enjoyed our workshops in their own school. Feedback from teachers has been universally positive.

What pupils develop in this workshop is a safe and secure mindset regarding the looming transition to Secondary School.

Using Drama, pupils are introduced to three characters with varying experiences on their first day of Secondary School. They learn their fears and how they overcame them, making them feel more settled and at ease.

They have the opportunity to interact with each of them, with the purpose of making them comfortable to ask any difficult questions.

Most importantly though, pupils are encouraged to think positively about their futures.

Our transition programme was put together with a consortium of educators, writers and performers ensuring that it works for pupils, educators and parents every time – and with 800+ school visits to date, we feel confident that we can verify this is the case.

Whether you’ve asked the children that question or not the chances are you can guess the most popular answers. Play time, lunch break, games, the reading of a story, art…

But does anyone say “Assembly”?

If any children do give that as an answer they are probably going to be in a minority, and yet it ought to be possible to generate more enthusiasm for assemblies since the assembly is an opportunity to do something utterly different from what happens in the rest of the day.

Indeed, there is no reason why the children should not look forward to each day’s assembly in order to find out what new and exciting event is going to happen next.

And there is of course a bonus here, because in such a scenario what we inevitably find is that one has everyone’s complete attention.

It was with this idea in mind that I began to collect ways of delivering Assemblies that did more than meet the statutory requirement. Assemblies that become as riveting as the TV programme that children ensure they get home in time to watch each day.

But of course assemblies need more than originality, for they also need to meet the social and emotional needs of the children who attend them and offer a focus on the values that the school wishes to present to the children.

As a result of this thinking we have produced a set of over 350 assemblies which are instantly available, and fully scripted. And we are still working on the project with new assemblies being added every month.

These assemblies are divided into 12 categories along with an index which allows you to choose your assembly by topic. You can read a full example of one of our assemblies by following this link

Additionally you can see the complete list of the 12 main categories and from there you can go into each category and see the details of all the assemblies on offer.

The Casio FX 85GT+ and the Logik LK 83XP are excellent choices for your GCSE maths students. They are in use in thousands of schools and colleges throughout the UK.

Both calcs have a “natural display” function which enables students to enter expressions and data as shown in textbooks. As you would expect the build quality and reliability of these calcs is excellent and they both benefit from a THREE year warranty. (excludes damage to the LCD).

The LogikLK 83XP has similar features to the CasioFX 85GT+ (but without the “verify” and “recurring decimal” functions). Both calcs feature prime factorisation, random numbers, algebraic logic, multi-line replay, standard deviation, log / anti-log, hyperbolics etc and have a THREE year warranty and are available at short notice from Signpost Educational Ltd.

The LogikLK 83XP is available from £ 5.25 each while the CasioFX 85GT+ starts from £ 7.85 each. Both are also available in class sets of 30 calcs in a Gratnells storage box with a foam insert and a clip on lid.

With many years’ of experience in delivering accredited online keyboard skills training for school pupils, we are now pleased to announce the launch of our new online, video-based e-Learning courses for your staff. These will provide key accredited training, some of which is regulatory, at a time and pace to fit around their work commitments – all at a tiny fraction of the price of conventional training.

For a full list of courses and details of their content, click on the subject headings above. You will find a preview of the first module of every course which you can view free of charge.

All our courses are of the highest quality, using video to illustrate and engage the learner. Content is kept up to date constantly. And each course includes a series of assessments which lead to a completion certificate, especially important where training is regulatory.

Please click here to make an enquiry and we’ll send you a price quotation. For schools we offer flexible credit schemes with massive discounts against the individual prices shown on our website.

“It was fantastic! So professional and carefully engineered to give the students what they need.”

There’s still time to book any one of our four great in-school shows for the current academic year. However, the diary is filling up so I recommend getting in touch with Helen, our tour administrator, ASAP.

The four productions are:

ROMEO AND JULIET MACBETH

A CHRISTMAS CAROL JEKYLL AND HYDE

To discuss your requirements, and how we can help your students through one or more of our performances, either:

Alternatively, you can call me for a chat about any aspect of Fred Theatre playing at your school on 01789 777612.

All we need to perform at your school is a space approximately 5m x 5m with room (of course) for the audience. If you have room, and feel it would be a good idea, you can also invite some parents along too, so that they can see what their sons and daughters are studying.

Our 90- or 60-minute adaptations are fresh and exciting re-tellings of the familiar and much-loved stories. Each is performed by a cast of six professional actors. We concentrate on the text and producing a faithful representation of the original—just a little shorter!

Get in touch today and let’s see if we can bring some great live theatre to your school soon.

Best wishes

Robert Ball
Artistic Director
Fred Theatre

PS: We have exciting plans for 2019-20 and I’ll be writing to you about these next month.

A wonderful opportunity for students aged 15-18 with a passion for literature to discover a range of new authors and texts, explore fresh approaches to familiar works and to prepare for undergraduate study of English Literature.

“I absolutely adored the summer school – it was completely inspiring and I enjoyed every second of it! I would have done the week over and over! I would recommend to anyone interested in literature, no matter whether experienced or not because you will, without a doubt, come away from the course with a passion for literature that will never leave you!”

The English Literature Summer School – Part 1 will cover literature dating from 650AD to 1790AD, including Middle English, Medieval Literature, Chaucer, The Renaissance, Shakespeare, Restoration Literature and the Rise of the Novel. In addition we will also be covering Historicist and Feminist critical approaches as part of this Summer School.

The English Summer School – Part 1 will be held on the 29th July – 2nd August – you can see a schedule for the course here.

The English Literature Summer School – Part 2 will cover literature dating from 1790AD to the present day, including Romanticism and the Gothic Movement, Victorian Sensation Novels, Literature and the British Empire, Modernism, Postmoderism and Contemporary Literature. We will be covering the ‘Death of the Author’ and Postcolonial criticism as part of this Summer School.

The English Summer School – Part 2 will be held on the 5th – 9th August – you can see a schedule for the course here.

Please note that students can attend both Parts of the Summer School, or either one, depending on their literary interests. Although the courses complement one another, they can also be treated as stand alone events and there is no requirement to have attended Part 1 in order to register for Part 2.

The material will be challenging, about the level of difficulty one might expect in the first year at university, but a relaxed atmosphere, with plenty of discussion, debate, and opportunities for students to shape the direction of classes creates the perfect environment for getting to grips with new ideas. Working in small groups (usually around 12 students per class) over five days means a real chance to get to know tutors and fellow students and to explore the topics or questions that particularly interest each individual.

This Summer School is suitable for all students aged 15-18 with a love for literature!

“The Summer School was really fantastic. I had the chance to explore Old English which I was interested in, but had not fully explored. I now have so many ideas and further reading lists to look at especially for my personal statement which is very helpful indeed. The tutors are all experts in their fields and create an engaging, challenging environment. Highly recommend.”

“This was the second time I had done a Debate Chamber course, and it was just as good as the first. I really love the sequential nature of the English course, especially as it helps so much in placing texts in their historical and inter textual contexts. I particularly enjoyed the Measure for Measure session because we were able to all explore many of the problems and themes in the play in a very liberating and intense way. I loved the debates that were generated. I also really enjoyed the Anglo-Saxon session because it was an introduction to something I had never covered before, and which also introduced me to some excellent early feminist writers (Margery Kempe!). Every day I came home absolutely buzzing and it really helped cement my desire to take English Literature at university. Thank you so much to all the tutors and the rest of my group for making this week a brilliant and memorable experience.”

Read more reviews from previous English Literature Summer School students here.

Practical Details:

All the Summer School events will be held at University of London venues in Bloomsbury, Central London, and will take place in July and August 2019. Please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.

Apparently yes, it is possible, because so far over 100,000 secondary school students have watched the theatrical presentation “Alphabet of a Teenager” in their own school. Feedback from teachers has been universally positive.

What these students have seen is a production that covers 36 PSHE issues in one 60 minute performance.

The play follows a teenager as he reflects on how his life has changed over his time at school, the friends he’s made along the way, and the trials and tribulations of teenage life.

Alphabet of a Teenager was put together with a consortium of educators, writers and performers, ensuring that it works for pupils and students every time – and with productions having taken place in over 800 schools, we can certainly verify that this is the case.

There are also optional follow up workshops which delve deeper into the issues raised.

When it comes down to it there are two factors that parents can be concerned about, although sadly one of those factors is something that we can do nothing about.

The issue beyond our control is, of course, the unavoidable reality that all children grow, which means schoolwear has to be replaced year by year.

That obviously can’t be avoided, but the other issue – that is the quality of labels, embroidery, and print that is added to school clothing – is very much under your control.

Which is a rather important factor, for there is no doubt that the one thing that annoys parents almost more than any other is the quality of anything that is added to their school uniform purchases.

And the simple fact is that the quality of labels, embroidery, and print on school garments can vary from one supplier to another. Indeed, as you may well have found, embroidery and print are services that many firms claim to offer, but not everyone gets it right.

The simple fact is that we are the specialists in this area of work including embroidery without minimum quantities, heat transfer printing, direct to garment digital printing, bespoke garment labels, and of course nametapes.

If it is labels and tags that you are interested in you will be able to find out more on our specialist web page

You can also find out more about each of these areas on our website – from this page you will find at the top links to the rest of our work.

Alternatively you can call us on 01208 833 070, fax 01208 781 158 or email wovina@aol.com and we’ll be pleased to quote you.

For the past twenty years or so, trim trail play equipment has been incredibly popular within school playgrounds and for good reasons – it caters for a wide range of children aged 4-11; it can easily be added to as funds allow; it is easy to install; some items do not require safety surfacing which can be quite expensive and it promotes physical and mental awareness.

Up until now, the standard material used for this type of play equipment has been timber and usually rounded log as this avoids any sharp edges for children. Whilst this is a pleasant material to work with, it also has its disadvantages too in that rounded posts suffer quite badly from radial cracking where the wood dries out from the pith (centre), causing shakes and splits which can open up quite considerably in the summer months. And more importantly, posts which are dug into the ground without the proper protection will eventually rot over a period of time and render the playground unsafe to use…or even condemned in worst case scenarios.

But there is now a new alternative and that is adventure trim trails made out of recycled plastic instead of timber. Recycled plastic has quite a lot of advantages for a school to consider when considering value for money – firstly, it is incredibly eco-friendly as it is manufactured out of recycled plastic milk cartons which very much complements the whole eco schools programme and teaches children about sustainability. It does not rot even when dug into the ground whatever the conditions; it is hard to vandalise; it lasts about five times longer than other materials; it is UV resistant and does not suffer from the afore-mentioned shakes & splits; it is splinter free and it is virtually maintenance free (so some big savings to be made for a school’s annual maintenance budget).

Have you ever wondered what its like to be a fashion designer of an international brand? Well now, you don’t have to. With a phenomenal presence as an online retailer for both menswear and womenswear, several stores across the UK and entities in Spain and America, we were welcomed into the office of Emma Kenyon — a leading fashion designer at QUIZ.

Her life at work is everything you would expect it to be and more — she’s like the real-life Miranda Priestly. But nicer of course. So, if you’re studying fashion or want to make waves in the industry, this is the girl boss that you should be looking up to and we have all the deetz you’re dying to know.

How long have you worked at QUIZ?

Wow, you’re testing my memory now! I’ve been at QUIZ for around five years now — I guess time flies when you’re having fun. It’s interesting how I got to work here actually, I’ve always respected QUIZ as a brand and how it influenced my fashion choices when I was younger, so I rang up the HQ and told them that I thought I would make a great addition to their team even though there were no positions available, I secured two interviews and done a huge presentation in front of the decision makers!

What is the first thing you do when you arrive at the office?

Equipped with my coffee, I check out what has been selling that week and which styles have really taken off with our customers. This is really important from a design perspective, because once we know the type of items of customers want, we can tailor future products to those specifications!

What do you spend most of your time doing?

My aim is to create something that people feel proud wearing, so I spend a lot of time researching new shapes and taking inspiration from luxury brands. It’s important to strike a balance between affordability and the latest trends so that our customers can always have an up-to-date wardrobe at a low cost while not compromising on the quality of our garments.

What is the best part of your job?

Every designer will say this, but the best part of the job is seeing something that you’ve worked on go from development to fruition in stores. I love scrolling on Instagram and seeing lots of people wearing the dresses I have designed on their nights out!

Where do you get your design inspiration from?

There’s so much inspiration out there, but I mainly look towards trend forecasting agencies, international brands, catwalks and of course — Instagram!

What makes a great fashion designer?

If you want to be a fashion designer, a key interest in the industry is essential. You’ll need a lot of motivation, the ability to pick commercial trends and be able to know your customers like the back of your hand!

Did you study fashion related courses?

You should always work hard in all of your subjects as this can really open up more opportunities for your future. I did GCSEs and A-Levels in Textiles, then moved on to an Art and Design course at college where I specialised in fashion. Then, I went to university for four years and got my fashion design degree!

What advice would you give to someone who wants to work in fashion design?

Getting experience is essential, reach out to companies and ask if they offer internships! Before QUIZ, I completed an internship at House of Holland in the lead up to London Fashion Week where I learnt pattern cutting. As well as this, I also worked in John Lewis’ head office as an intern where I learnt CAD design skills. Take as many opportunities as you can — it will look great on your CV!